River Downs: Me Son has edge

Me Son will attempt to become the second Calder-based runner to win a stakes at River Downs this year when he meets nine opponents in the $40,000 Hoover Stakes for Ohio-bred 2-year-olds. The Hoover, the first 2-year-old stakes of the meet, will be run at 5 1/2 furlongs.

Outrageous Queen, the Ohio-bred winner of the Tomboy Stakes in May, was the first Calder-based stakes winner of the meet.

A three-length winner of a $12,500 maiden claimer in his debut, Me Son was subsequently unplaced in two open stakes. All three races were at Calder.

Though he was not competitive against the best juveniles in Florida, that experience gives him a leg up on his locally based rivals. Me Son will race with blinkers for the first time in the Hoover and will be ridden by Orlando Mojica.

Of the River Downs-based talent, Ghost Rider in Red and Fierce Cat appear to be the main threats. Ghost Rider in Red won his debut in a statebred maiden special weight May 27 and was flattered when the second- and third-place finishers each returned to win his next start.

Fierce Cat needed three starts to win his maiden, but it was by 10 lengths in open company. Fierce Cat is no stranger to facing stakes-quality colts, having lost his debut to Maximus C, subsequently third in the Bashford Manor Stakes at Churchill.